Great Singers, Second Series eBook

The marriage of Mlle. Grisi, in the spring of
1830, to M. Auguste Gerard de Melcy, a French gentleman
of fortune, did not deprive the stage of one of its
greatest ornaments, for after a short retirement at
the beautiful chateau of Vaucresson, which she had
recently purchased, she again resumed the operatic
career which had so many fascinations for one of her
temperament, as well as substantial rewards. Her
first appearance in London after her marriage was
with Rubini and Tamburini in the opera of “Semiramide,”
speedily followed by a performance of Donna Anna,
in “Don Giovanni.” The excitement
of the public in its eager anticipation of the latter
opera was wrought to the highest pitch. A great
throng pressed against both entrances of the theatre
for hours before the opening of the doors, and many
ladies were severely bruised or fainted in the crush.
It was estimated that more than four thousand persons
were present on this occasion. The cast was a
magnificent one. Mme. Grisi was supported
by Mmes. Persiani and Albertazzi, and Tamburini,
Lablache, and Rubini. This was hailed as one
of the great gala nights in the musical records of
London, and it is said that only a few years ago old
connoisseurs still talked of it as something incomparable,
in spite of the gifted singers who had since illustrated
the lyric art. Mme. Pasta, who occupied
a stage box, led the applause whenever her beautiful
young rival appeared, and Grisi, her eyes glowing
with happy tears, went to Pasta’s box to thank
the queen of lyric tragedy for her cordial homage.

“Don Giovanni” was performed with the
same cast in January, 1838, at the Theatre Italiens.
About an hour after the close of the performance the
building was discovered to be on fire, and it was soon
reduced to a heap of glowing ashes. Severini,
one of the directors, leaped from an upper story,
and was instantly dashed to pieces, and Robert narrowly
saved himself by aid of a rope ladder. Rossini,
who had an apartment in the opera-house, was absent,
but the whole of his musical library, valued at two
hundred thousand francs, was destroyed, with many rare
manuscripts, which no effort or expense could replace.

III.

Mme. Grisi, more than any other prima donna who
ever lived, was habitually associated in her professional
life with the greatest singers of the other sex.
Among those names which are inseparable from hers,
are those of Rubini, Tamburini, Lablache, and, par
excellence, that of Mario. Any satisfactory
sketch of her life and artistic surroundings would
be incomplete without something more than a passing
notice of these shining lights of the lyric art.
Giambattista Rubini, without a shred of dramatic genius,
raised himself to the very first place in contemporary
estimation by sheer genius as a singer, for his musical
skill was something more than the outcome of mere knowledge